08/06/2026
Accounts of the Aviary:
This is a 5.5 week old latino, the runt of her clutch. She's quite a bit smaller than the rest because she hatched almost a full week after the previously hatched sibling. This would be caused by a delay or inconsistancy in the incubation process. I, usually, will pull a delayed chick for hand rearing, but decided to let mom and dad keep this one. She was the last chick left in the nest box when mom started laying a new clutch of eggs (Ill let them have one more clutch before implementing a rest period). Two days ago, the little latino had left the nest, or was kicked out by mom to make room for the next clutch, and was beginning the weaning process.
Now, the reason I usually pull a delayed chick for hand rearing is because mom and dad may decide to be done with weaning their babies before that last chick has been fully weaned. Weaning the chicks completely, and properly, is critical to their survival. If a baby is not able to consume enough calories on its own, it cannot sustain its own life, and will slowly starve to death. I witnessed today, in a 2 hour time period, baby latino cried 4 times for food from her parents and no one fed her. One of those times, baby climbed a perch and desperately pleaded with her mother, who aggressively pecked at her to go away. 😪 Her last chance was dad, who completely ignored her cries as he tended to mom in the nest. 😪 It was obvious they were done with this clutch of chicks and no one was going to feed the latino runt. 😪
However, I already knew this could happen and was prepared for it. Of course Im not going to let her starve!! 🥲
There is one hurdle I need to leap over though.... when a chick of this age hasnt been hand fed before, its unlikely to willingly start hand feedings. The challenge will be to force feed her some formula without force feeding her, because force feeding can cause fatal aspiration (suffocation). So, I get my formula warmed, and grab my funneled spoon and begin the process of using the tip of the spoon, coated with a small amount of the warmed formula, to gently pry a small taste inside her beak. If I cant get her to accept some food willingly, Ill have to resort to more invasive tactics, that I wont get into right now.
Thankfully, this story has a happy ending!! She is very hungry. She gets a taste and immediately starts gulping from the spoon. She's going to be just fine!
Thankfully, for this little latino, my years of bird breeding have taught me lots. I looked at the scenario, foreseen the possible outcome, and was ready and able to intervene. I love a happy ending!! 😊 She will be ready for adoption as soon as she completes the weaning process. Please pm me if interested.
